Daily Times

KARACHI: Heavy rain, coupled with stormy winds, hit the city late Monday night, leading to panic on the roads, with power outages, and destroyed old trees and electricity poles making it into a misry.

Several areas of the city plunged into darkness after more than 300 feeders of K-Electric, the private power supplier of the city, tripped following heavy rains and thunderstorm.

According to rescue sources, at least ten people, among them two young siblings, died in rain-related incidents and electrocution.

According to met office, the stormy weather enveloped different cities across Sindh, including Hyderabad and Karachi.

Eight people, including three women, two young siblings, lost their lives in rain-related incidents.

Most of the fatalities were caused by electrocution. Rameez, 18, died in Rizvia Society, 18-year-old Basma died in Pak Colony, Haris and Mansoor were electrocuted in Garden East area of Soldier Bazaar, while 18-year-old Maryum died of electric shock in North Karachi.

Elsewhere, two young siblings were killed when the roof of their house collapsed in North Karachi, near Disco Morr. Hajra Bibi, 28, and an unidentified man died in similar incidents in Faqir Goth, on Superhighway, and Gulshan-e-Kaneez Fatima areas, respectively. Six others were injured.

Different areas of the city experienced severe power cuts during and following the downpour Monday night.

Shah Faisal Town, Gulistan-e-Johar, F.B. Area, Malir, Airport, University Road, Defence, Safoora Goth, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Gurumandir and other localities were plunged into darkness as 300 feeders tripped.

The heavy rainfall also led to water stagnating at various roads and intersections in the metropolis, thereby causing blockages and traffic jams around midnight.

According to the Director of Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the rain is forecasted to continue at least through Wednesday.

On other hand, the strong winds that accompanied the torrential rainfall in Karachi Monday night lead to the falling of numerous trees in Gulistan-e-Johar and other areas of the city area, as well as one near the Chief Ministers House.

One tree that fell on a car parked on the corner of a road in Gulistan-e-Johar – was moved by passersby in order to help resume traffic flow partially.

Syed Murad Ali Shah, the Chief Minister of Sindh, slammed K-Electric over power outages that occurred right after the rain in Karachi.

“Why was KE was unprepared for this situation when it knew about the rain forecast?” Shah inquired, noting that he will not tolerate the company’s “unruly, chaotic system” anymore.

The CM advised the organisation to fix its behavior and operations, calling it “the most unsuccessful institution”. “How come the feeders trip immediately after the first drop of rain?” Shah asked.

On other hand, rainwater also created problems for the livestock owners in the animal mandi set up at the Super Highway. The heavy rain inconvenienced buyers from reaching the mandi and caused slight panic since sacrificial animals are of high value and need to be kept in good health.

Nevertheless, work to drain the rainwater is now underway.

Published in Daily Times, August 23^rd 2017.